Friday Recap: The Final Five...La Habra, La Mirada, La Serna, Whittier Christian and Cantwell all win; Santa Fe and Cal lose
Just call them the Final Five.
It's down to the final five among area football teams after the first round of the CIF-Southern Section playoffs, with La Habra, La Mirada, La Serna, Whittier Christian and Cantwell all winning. Santa Fe, despite being the No. 2 seed, proved to be no match for speedy Muir, and Cal couldn't get up witih Pasadena, losing 57-43, in one of the more shocking scores of the night. La Habra won in a cakewalk over 4-6 Kennedy, with La Serna and Cantwell winning on the road.
Here's a brief look at Friday's games:
La Habra 47, Kennedy 14 -- The Highlanders used their usual three of Aaron Porter, Brett Bartolone and Sean Sparling to roll in a Southwest Division first round. It should be just as easy next week with a return trip to Brea Olinda. I don't expect the Highlanders to be tested until the finals when Villa Park is the obvious opponent.
La Serna 47, Mayfair 34 -- The Lancers have been one of the better teams in the Southeast Division all season, and showed it Friday with a solid win over the Monsoons. OJ Medina, the usual leader, rushed for 194 yards and scored four touchdowns to lead the Lancer into the second round, where they will be at traditonal-power Los Altos for a shot to advance to the semifinals for the second consecutive season. I wouldn't bet against the Lancers.
Muir 39, Santa Fe 7 -- The Chiefs, hoping to give long-time coach Jack Mahlstede a nice retirement gift, were no match for the Mustangs, who looked like a bunch of thoroughbreds, jumping out to a 26-7 halftime lead and we're never threatened.
Pasadena 57, California 43 -- Jim Arnold would have probably been satisfied with a 43-point effort from the Condors' offense, ,but it wasn't enough to stop the Bulldogs' Brandon Cox, who threw for 402 yards and six TDs.Cal's running back trio of Lawrence Gomez, Gabriel Lozano and Justin Dankert combined for 408 yards rushing and six TDs.
La Mirada 35, Crescenta Valley 30 -- Quarterback Gerry Myres continued his solid second half, throwing for 229 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Mats into the second round. it's gets tougher in round two with a road trip to Arcadia, which might be the division's second-best behind West Covina.
Whittier Christian 40, El Monte 16 -- The Heralds look like they are ready to make another trek to the finals after routing the up-start Lions. QB Daniel Chacon continued a solid season by throwing for 233 yards and three scores. We now get a 2010 championship rematch as the Heralds host Monrovia -- and 5-star prospect Ellis McCarthy -- in the second round.
Cantwell 35, El Segundo 30 -- Senior Adam Aguirre, who had played second fiddle to fellow senior Corey Collins this season, stepped up at the right time, catching six passes for 205 yards and three scores to lead the Cardinals to a much-needed win on the road. Cantwell will now play for a second consecutive trip to the semifinals next week.
34 Comments
Leave a comment
About this blog
Steve Ramirez is the prep sports editor for the Whittier Daily News.
It is abundantly clear, from the multitude of postings, that a win over St. Paul would be all that La Habra fans would ever need to be content. That is the actual extent of their ambitions: to beat a lower-level, local school.
Their yearly scheduling of tough teams (and yearly losses to each and every one of them) merely provides an outlet to feign higher aspirations. Why else do we hear nothing about their actions to be moved up in league and division? The nonsense about CIF not allowing this or that is always cited, but it's clear from the rhetoric that their sights are set squarely on only the local molehill, with nothing more challenging ever to be needed.
"Word on the street is that SP is trying to hire David Copperfield as there (incorrect spelling; its 'their') new coach. >>
"Hopefully he can magically get them to appear in the play-offs next year" >>
No good coach with any track record will take that garbage can program over. Too much drama and to (incorrect spelling again; 'too'. Public school education?) many midgets running around the field >>
...Scum of the area SP No playoffs again.... >>
And by the way- the La Habra faithful showed a whole lot of class chanting "Over rated" as they were getting beat by Servite. Yes, I was there. I, unlike you, get out and watch more than one team. And it was FUN watching LH lose.
@Devil Up: Where were you with your warnings of Muir greatness BEFORE the Chiefs took their annual dump? It's only NOW that you decide the Mustangs are a dangerous, talented squad and everybody better lookout for them.
Would you be extolling the darkhorse capabilities of Muir if Santa Fe had managed to squeak past the Mustangs? Of course not. You're simply engaging in the time-honored tradition of all losers: excuse making.
Let me get this straight: since your Chiefs were rated NUMBER 2 in the entire Southeast division, and Muir pounded them 39-7, and you are absolutely trembling in awe of them, surely you're projecting that Muir will dispose of West Covina to claim the title...right?
If you now want to backoff of this Muir title talk, saying the Mustangs aren't THAT good, what you're admitting is that SANTA FE ISN'T THAT GOOD. Yep, your Chiefs got exposed and your excuse is weak.
Actually it's already been decided... Someone offensive-minded will take over the program. There's a solid QB and receiving corp returning next season.
Rumor mill?
Word on the street is that SP is trying to hire David Copperfield as there new coach. Hopefully he can magically get them to appear in the play-offs next year. Lol. No good coach with any track record will take that garbage can program over. Too much drama and to many midgets running around the field...Scum of the area SP. No playoffs again....
@Still Laughing
Maybe a Dusan Ancich???
With one of the area's most storied football programs looking to fill a coaching vacancy this offseason, how fun would that be for one of two coaches from a lower division with great track records and no chance of taking those schools to a state championship game, to get a call to bring their winning ways to a school that can play in a state championship game? Just a thought...
Hey Goin' Down,
Did you even bother to check out Muir and their league before spewing your crap? By no means were they a true AT-LARGE team. They were part of a 3 way tie for third and became the at-large team due to the flip of a coin. And FYI - the team that one that league Burroughs was handed its only league loss by Muir 28-0. Just facts but they don't make the loss hurt any less to SF but was it so unexpected.....NO. And it shouldn't have been to anyone who truly follows the brackets.
By the way was it just me or did SF's d-coordinator leave mid game when his son got hurt and was taken away in mommy's car???? In reality you weren't doing OUR boys any good so why not go be with your D1 prospect (ya right!) son.
@hate to see you go coach:
I almost didn't go to the Muir-Santa Fe game, because the Calpreps rating had the Chiefs rated 24.7, while Muir was only 13.6. Over at Maxpreps, the Chiefs were rated 2456 and 207 in the nation and state, while Muir was only 4639 and 380 respectively.
Given those numbers, not even God almighty would have given Muir a chance. I do not believe that you or any Chiefs fan envisioned the beating you got. As I say, I was on the fence about Muir's chances.
It's touching that you wish the old coach well, but I have to ask you honestly: if he were younger and doing this poorly, would you really want to keep him around?
I think we can all agree that schools like Servite, Mission Viejo and Santa Margarita are the 'cream of the crop' in So Cal football. I have yet to see any of those fine schools' fans wearing the type of trashy, self-congratulating garbage common to the La Habra hordes.
You are obviously in a delusional state where nothing will persuade you that La Habra isn't the best of all time in all universes. That being the case, you should at least try to IMITATE the behavior of the great teams' fan base. They don't wear cheap shirts with huge letters and pictures, and they don't constantly wail about their exhalted status. They let their actual greatness speak for itself.
It's called CLASS, and it's something you might discover IF La Habra ever becomes an elite team.
Goin down-
You keep saying that like Muir was some bad at-large wildcard team. That team could beat anybody in the division on any given night if they are coached right and don't commit stupid penalties. Remember what they did to LM last year? Good job Chiefs with another DR crown and thanks for the memories Coach Mahlstede!
Really, you guys keep saying that LH compets with the best and correct me if I'm wrong but in the 3 games with the best, I don't think combined score of 95-46 and 19 points coming in the last 2min, and 24 points to a O'lu team who finished last in league.... LH is what it is, kings of Div. VI football.....
@ shut the piehole, you still don't get I don't know how much more clear I can be! LH knows what to do about they keep going out and winning and scheduling probably one of the toughest preseason schedules in southern california! So for all you area idiots to talk down about them, it's ignorant, they've proven that they can play with the big boys that's why they can talk like there that good (and I'm not even a LH fan) I just understand football and can recognize a great program.. Unlike all the homers that talk crap on this blog! All LH is saying is look, we are better than anyone in our division and can play with the top teams in other great divisions, but since we can't get in those particular divisions as of right now, we'll keep winning cif titles so they have no choice but to move them up and in the mean time keep scheduling the toughest preseason in order to prove to people that yes they don't belong in their division! It's that simple! So because they can't get in higher division and continue winning and play tough teams they have the right to say whatever they want until someone proves them otherwise! Like st. paul beating them, haha that won't happen! They're way to scared and honestly I don't know if LH would even lower they're preseason standards and play them now! St. Paul is along the lines of a del rio league team! Can't wait till next year when LH beats one of those schools in the preseason so you can really shut that piehole that just speaks crap anyways..! Then we'll all hear a million excuses about how lucky they were to win! LH is a team transitioning into a top team in southern california and people around just cant except it.. but soon they will.. so everyone will wait it's all good!
My good friend WATCHER: If you can't move out of your league and division into one which fits your level of play, and you can't imagine what to do about it, kindly glance at my posting moniker. I purposely chose that name so you could figure out how to keep a small portion of self respect while La Habra disgraces itself against overmatched oppponents.
If you persist in having trouble, let me know if you need that provided in braille. Sincerely, your friend, SHUT THE PIEHOLE.
@ shut your piehole and roni, you guys really don't get it!! It's like you idiots or something! If they can't get outta their league and division? What the F do you want them to do? Just quit playing football and not win CIF championships because it's not the PAC 5?! Yeah real smart, you talk like all it's about is the big big show or super bowl... Then all the divisions are irrelevant compared to the PAC 5, so should everyone just not play football anymore only teams like servite and lb poly?! And they're actual division isn't bad as you guys all make it out to be, villa park, Tustin and el toro are all legit teams, yeah they're not pac 5 but would all smash on St Paul no doubt! And la habra beats those teams because they can compete with the big boys, so of course they're gonna win they're division! They're just like Boise state in a lower league that can't get out, but to say they're not worthy to play the top dawgs is just stupid! La habra has proven they can be on the same field as PAC 5 schools not one other team in this area can say that! And yeah talk about they didn't win anything, but would you say that USC sucks because they lost to Stanford in overtime, no because they were right there! So for people that don't understand football.. Just keep talkin crap like you know when you really don't.. Ur just pissed St paul would get killed by a public school thats in a lower division and can't except it, I get it! But sometimes you gotta live in the real world not the 1960's when St Paul was good and just give credit when credit is due, and la habra would smah edision, you really have no knowledge of football.. Get it together..
Thank you Roni for that observation. My disgust with the antics of La Habra fans goes far beyond even issues of football. I've always found people who are heavily into self congratulation to be swine. It's not enough to let the on-field action speak for itself; these people have to blast their slogans and hype in everyone's face at top volume: "decade of dominance, got rings, city of champions", etc, etc.
The two area teams who operated at the very TOP level of NATIONAL prominence back in the day, St. Paul and El Rancho, never carried on like these Buffoons. As the story goes, guys who aren't 'gettin' any' brag the loudest about their sex lives. I'm positive that these La Habra fans know of their shortcomings, and talk like they do in an attempt to hide the truth.
The bottom line is you lost all six games to Trinity league teams. In that league if you loose three games you don't make the playoffs.
Dear Watcher: You say that La Habra "has shown it can play with the PAC 5." Did they actually, you know, BEAT any of those PAC 5 teams? Are we playing horseshoes here?
And of course we do have to remember that Servite defeated St. John Bosco, whereas your Highlanders got tossed around like rag dolls by the Braves.
La Habra is of the same caliber as a team like Edison of Huntington Beach. Congratulations for building a program of division one capabilities. Now get your bragging butts out of that lower division or SHUT YOUR PIEHOLES.
@ trivial pursuit, umm.. first of all la habra would smash on you at st. paul and win your league and division, it's not their fault their league wont let them out, their the money maker! And too clarify my statement, its that your garbage and you can only beat the inferior teams in your league and don't make playoffs! The only reason Mazzota scheduled that preseason schedule is because if he can beat those teams, like he could of if he had his starting qb, he would beat 3 of the top teams in the state and be undefeated and win a cif title and have the opportunity to play for a cif title. Thats why he's scheduling them, hello..!!! Because he knows he cant get out of that league right now, so since he cant move up this is his only option, not like st. pauls not even making the playoffs! La habra would gladly roll thru your league and division.. but your content with being the doormat of your league and not winning even a league title lol, cause hey guess what your in a little bit better league!! Wow, you can't even get to the playoffs to win your superbowl haha, and just to let you know the superbowl is the PAC 5, and la habra has proven they can play with them! What about you? Not even close! And La habra sends kids to d1 colleges at an "inferior" program in your eyes, when has st. paul sent someone to a d1 college recently in the last five years, and you can you use Grisby, cal does haha , your a mess!
@ Watcher-
Of all the recent championships won by local teams covered in the WDN, can you tell me who has won a championship in the highest divsion? Let me give you a hint- La Habra hasn't won a championship in any division higher than division 6 and only one school locally plays in a higher division and won one about 4 years ago. Once you figure that out, justify your following statement; "playing in a league they can't compete in and are outmatched every game but against two teams.." With that said, does that mean you'd rather have your kid play in inferior leagues and inferior divisions? Maybe they can get themselves an inferior career and live an inferior life.
Only four division champions get the honor of playing in a State Championship game in December, the rest of the division champions (D V - D XII) are merely consolation championships. Me, I'd rather have my team win the Super Bowl and not the Grey Cup. Catch my drift? But please, continue to debate the powerhouses of these schools, everyone needs to be proud of something in their life.
Oviedo (I refuse to call anyone dr unless they prescribe me some meds),
Mendez quit on Pioneer, Dion quit on Pioneer, Booker quit on Pioneer, Coach Juarez NEVER quit on Pioneer. Oviedo, YOU quit on Juarez. He is an excellent coach. Everyone in the area knows this and they could only imagine what he could do with as much talent as they have at the other 5 league schools. He has played with the cards he was dealt and you, Oviedo, dealt him a very bad hand. You made a big mistake, please rectify it.
@ P, c'mon man Telles is okay and he's gonna be senior playing in a league they can't compete in and are outmatched every game but against two teams.. It would be dumb for a coach to bank on one player for one year with no chance at making the playoffs! And the most talented qb in the area is Palmer from La serna, you should of seen him last night as a sophomore against a huge and fast Mayfair defense, making plays with his arm and feet.! And especially when they were the only team in the del rio league that was picked to lose! But the only one rhat won Lol they will make the semi's just like last year and get by Los altos, but Muir will be way to fast for them.. But overall a great learning experience for this young La Serna team will all juniors and sophomores and two seniors on offense and defense..
And I'm calling a win by la serna and la habra, but la mirada getting smoked by Arcadia! They won't be able to stop that passing attack! So long la mirada..!
SP has the best offensive talent of the area teams needing a new coach... finally a passing attack for an offensive-minded coach.
Let's please stop all this "legend" talk about Jack. What exactly has he done that is legendary? No CIF championships and 1 finals appearance! With all the talent he has had in average leagues and mediocre divisions...he has under achieved for a very long time.
the principal at Pioneer is dreaming if she thinks Pioneer is going to attract a decent coach. Maybe she will just hire her husband and former HH-Wilson head coach
@Area Observer: You said the magic words when you mentioned that Mahlstede RECRUITS. This is exactly what Ovieda (the Pioneer principal) would want him for. She realizes that Pioneer doesn't have the 'numbers', so her approach would be use whatever attraction the Mahlstede name still has to DRAW talent into that school.
She's not that dumb; she understands what a winning football programs does for a school, and if she doesn't go with the geezer, she'll probably go with a similar type, albeit younger. I'm simply stating that Mahlstede is the 'devil she knows', and he might be used for a couple years while shopping for a longer-term replacement.
It's a guarantee that Jack doesn't want to go out this way (losing to at-large Muir in a wipeout), and all he would have to do is get a handleful of wins for the Titans in order to be viewed as a knight in shining armor. It's not such a far-fetched notion, and that's what has my stomach in a knot. I'd prefer the man to be gone for good.
Dena Dog,
Nice call on CAl & Santa Fe. However you should not insulted the Del Rey League.
Not only is the Del Rey league not in the Southeast Division. Cal & Santa Fe came out of the DEL RIO League.
Good luck in Round 2 to your teams
I think Pioneer High School has made a mistake by letting Coach Juarez go. Let me say it again. "LET GO". Coach Juarez did not resign and I can say without a doubt, never even thought about it. I cannot believe that someone at Pioneer would be so irresponsible to do such a thing. They actually had a coach that cared about the kids and the program, and threw it all away. Do the people at Pioneer really understand that they dont have the numbers to compete in the DEL RIO league year in and year out? They could have had a decent season this year, had they had a decent quarterback. Coach Juarez is a good coach and has proven it when he has the talent to work with. I really hope he takes another job within the league so he can come back and spank the same people who let him go. Because believe me he will. Every other school has a better talent pool than pioneer and the only reason pioneer wins the couple games they do is becase of the coaching. Good luck coach Juarez, I hope you take another job and show people whats up. SOMETIMES PEOPLE DONT KNOW WHAT THEY HAVE UNTIL ITS GONE. good luck coach!!
Oh there's no way Jack will go to Pioneer! Never! He can't win with pretty good talent can you imagine with Pioneer's talent pool? He would be 0-10, he can't coach he just recruits athletes at Santa fe! And people don't feel bad for Juarez he stepped down, everyone knows he getting the Santa Fe job!! He will win with good players! Santa fe admin knows this and plus now he'll be promoting a new stadium! I'm happy for him the tide is turning for him!
Sad news about the release of Juarez; I'm sure he was a better role model than Mahlstede. An alarming thought just crossed my mind: since the current Pioneer principal, Monica Ovieda, used to be the principal at Santa Fe, wouldn't it be the worst thing ever if she were to keep Jack Mahlstede's career alive by persuading him to come over and coach the Titans now?
After last night's wipeout win by Muir, it's a good guess that even the most ardent Santa Fe loyalists are ready to see Jack walk the plank. But Ovieda may still be in Mahlstede's camp, and the man understandably doesn't want to go out this way, so I'm very nervous about him 'turning green' and coming over to taint the Titans.
Then again, I don't think he has any more grandsons to favor, so hopefully the area is rid of this 'legend'.
That is some BS that the principal over at Pioneer decided to let coach Juarez go. He is a good man, leader and does a good job with what they have over at Pioneer. Bad decision to let him go... Whittier coach also resigned, SF coach out and maybe the El Rancho coach out as well? Gonna be some new faces in the Del Rio league next year...
just wantd to let people know,the Titan family know they have lost a great coach,leader and mentor.He has been relived of is coaching duties as of this week.
the titans go out and play out of the area,they just do not have the horses,nor do they make excuses!
hey chiefs great job again,how many late hits,guess your preaseason games did not help.
Morbid curiosity got the better of me tonight, and I braved the ancient environs of Pioneer Stadium to watch Muir battle the mighty Santa Fe Chiefs.
I just got back, and I'm absolutely beaming with joy at how the Mustangs exposed the fradulence of the Chiefs' claim to excellence. I have been posting all week about how Muir could do something like this, even in the face of overwhelming denial by the likes of Ramirez, Tolegian and Robledo.
So Jack Mahlstede walks away in the most disgraceful manner possible, having been absolutely hammered by the Southeast division's AT LARGE team, in the very first playoff game, AT HOME. Muir wins 39-7 in a blowout.
This shouldn't come as a major surprise, because anyone who has glanced at the Chiefs' postseason history knows that first round flameouts of this sort are a Chief specialty. Are you listening, area sportswriters?
Pasadena and Muir will both stomp on Cal and Santa Fe. Those schools don't play outside of their areas (okay, Santa Fe did travel for once and got served). All the schools in the Del Rey league and the sorry Almont League never play outside of the east side of L.A. Can't keep your kids sheltered for ever........